Financial commitment for I-35 continues to divide CAMPO

After weeks of running projects through updated scoring criteria, the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization is still not approaching consensus on a list of projects to defer from its 2021-2024 Transportation Improvement Program, in order to free up $633 million…

APD community engagement audit finds some improvement but data lacking

Although the Austin Police Department has put considerable effort into improving its community policing efforts over the past four years and there have been some positive impacts, an audit by the Office of the City Auditor concluded there was insufficient…

Travis County to fund Las Lomitas pipeline

Las Lomitas, a subdivision of 30 homes in southeastern Travis County, has functioned for decades without access to water or wastewater service. Now Travis County, in partnership with Creedmoor-Maha Water Supply Company, a private water utility, is working to change…

Planning Commission declines to rescind Simon-Caskey Tract plan

After a lengthy discussion at Tuesday night’s meeting, the Planning Commission ultimately voted to uphold its April 28 vote on the Simon-Caskey Tract Preliminary Plan in City Council District 8. The preliminary plan, approved April 28, calls for the development…

Capital Metro proposes incorporating Austin B-cycle as extension of public transit network

By late fall, public transit and bike-share users may be able to access both services with the purchase of a local bus day pass. Under a proposed partnership with the city, the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority is looking to expand…

Staffers offer a preview of FY 2020 budget

The Austin Health and Human Services Committee heard a budget update Tuesday morning that included news of how the Covid-19 pandemic is affecting the city. “We were projecting a balanced budget for FY 21,” Deputy Chief Financial Officer Ed Van…

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Water parks, adult sports programs, mall food courts can reopen this month

Water parks, recreational sports programs for adults, driver education programs and food-court dining areas in malls can reopen this month with certain occupancy restrictions and health protocols, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday. Water parks can open at 25 percent occupancy…

Historic Landmark Commission once again denies development proposal for Parker House

The family-owned Parker House sits on a 0.32-acre tract of land in West Campus that is worth $1.7 million. In an effort to preserve the historic home at 2404 Rio Grande St. and also develop the back portion of the…

Hotel taxes forecast to fall by $36M, leading to expected deficit in city arts funding

With the city projecting a $36 million decrease in Hotel Occupancy Tax revenue because of lower hotel bookings due to the Covid-19 pandemic, arts funding for the current budget year is expected to see a $1.5 million shortfall. The Arts…

Landmark Commission approves demolition of former West Campus grocery store

A two-story brick building at 601 W. 26th St. that has been around since 1890 may soon be replaced by high-rise student housing. Since the original building was altered in the 1950s in a way that has compromised its historical…

Austin History Center chronicles the pandemic

The Austin History Center is a treasure trove of posters, books, photographs, and records from across the city’s history. And while the center is currently shuttered due to Covid-19, it is still doing the work of collecting records of the…

Council OKs SOS amendment for Lantana tract

With the blessing of the Save Our Springs Alliance, City Council voted unanimously last week to approve a zoning change on the Lantana property at 7415 Southwest Parkway, allowing for the development of multifamily housing instead of the office complex…